The fruit man who grows fruits in the off-season
We went from Balangoda to Beragala and turned from Beragala to Miriyabedda Koslanda Road. Diyaluma waterfall is on the side of that road. The waterfall that used to wet the passers-by during the rainy season seems to be coming back to life now.
The waterfall flows like a small river. Looking at the environment, it is felt that the drought conditions that have affected the country in recent days have also affected this area in the same way.
Mr. Abeysingha Handawalapitiya, a Silumina reader, gave us a clue about the orchard where rambutan durians grow in good abundance.
"I didn't go too. Someone told me the same. Go and see if you can." We started following the path Mr. Abeysinghe said. After passing the Koslanda Junction, we went to Kalipanawela.
"Where is Rambutan Dayananda's garden?"
A villager guided us. Usually in Colombo, or on Gampaha Kandy Road, Avissawella Colombo Road, Rambutan Durian etc. can be seen in July and August.
It can be said that it is Thimbirigasya that passes by the smell of rambutan durian season in a bus while blindfolded.
But the months of July, August and September passed and the end. At a time when the Rambutan trees in Byagama and Malwana areas were deserted, we were surprised to see the Rambutan trees in Dayananda's garden, Kalipanawela Rambutan, full of Rambutan flowers, fruits and bunches. The rambutan that looked at the hand was grown outside. Rambutan knot in some trees. Another flower.
“I have planted ten acres of rambutan. Making rambutan is like making a small child. We need to take care of the rambutan trees after cutting them." Dayananda began to say, pointing to rambutan trees.
When you walk around his estate, you can imagine how much dedication this man who grows fruits in the off season must have done.
A part of the land is embanked with limestone. The granite was quarried from the same garden. The land is situated on some high ground. It does not have a tube well or any other source of water. But Dayananda did not give up his idea. He worked hard to get water for his land. Finally, he traveled a long distance from Koslanda Oya and got water from the pipe to his land. Now Dayananda's orchard is watered through it.
He is a wonderful person. His name was Piyasena Dayananda and he was born in Ratnapura. He married from Welimada area. He settled in Bandarawela. But his orchard is in Koslanda Kalipanawela.
“I have worked in agriculture for thirty eight (38) years. He retired from work in 2001. At that time I was the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Badulla. I have a good understanding of this area. And in several foreign countries that means in Germany. I was able to gain experience in the field of agriculture for a year. It was after that trip that I started growing tomatoes in the off-season. It was a very successful crop. I bought this land in 1993. At that time, this land was a jungle. With rocky gravelly soil.” Mr. Dayananda recalls the past.
He wanted to succeed somehow. He also used the knowledge he gained to collide with the earth. Cleared the undergrowth. The stones were broken and removed. The last rambutan cultivation started.
"I still cover these expenses with the income I get from the rambutan fruit. Because I know about agriculture and the nature of this area, I knew from experience that it is possible to grow rambutan.
It was with that belief that I planted commercially. First I planted four hundred trees. At that time, some people said that Dayananda was stabbed with rambutans. But it didn't happen like that and I succeeded."
Dayananda did not stop growing rambutan. He began to experiment more. Among his experiments are Durian, Mora, Nellie, Pomegranate, Mango, Jambola, Jamanarang, Uragassa, Gaduguda, sweet tamarind, seedless didul and many other fruits that can yield more fruits.
Varaka is also special among them. Now his cultivation land is spread over a dozen acres. For a time he also planted anthurium flowers.
“I like to experiment. I say this country can be self-sufficient in agriculture. If I have more land, I can expand this cultivation. But no one pays attention to us.
I am also ready to impart technical knowledge and knowledge about this cultivation to anyone. I had a money problem once. I took a big loan from the bank. But the income came only for the maintenance of the garden. Bank loans could not be paid. The loan was paid off by selling a land. But now I am satisfied with the success of my experiments.”
He says, walking around hundreds of flowering durian trees.
It is a question how the trees shine so green in dry weather. But the servants working in Dayananda's garden water the trees at the right time. Organic fertilizers as well as agrochemical fertilizers are used in his crops. Fruit flies are a big problem during the flowering season of fruit trees.
He has also used remedies for that. Fruit flies fall into his trap. There is no solution for the peacocks and bats that take refuge there, regardless of whether the traps are set for fruit flies. He feels sad when bats and peacocks damage the crops.
Among his experiments are Madang Mora etc. He sometimes transplants mother plants brought from Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia etc.
"Most fruits now don't have nuts. Therefore, it is difficult to breed plants. That is why grafting is done. I'm looking for mora trees these days." He says to try another experiment, Mora Gus So
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